Helen J. Werth

Helen J. Werth, 97, passed away June 30, 2008, in Fallbrook. She was born December 16, 1910, at the farm home of her parents, Herbert E. and Edith Clark Leonard, near Watertown, SD. She was designated a Pioneer Daughter of Dakota, her grandparents, Joseph P. and Sarah Leonard, being among the first settlers in Dakota Territory.

She graduated from Central High School in Watertown in 1928 and from Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. She taught in rural one-room schools in both the Watertown and Aberdeen areas.

On October 10, 1931, Helen married Alvin E. Werth, the son of pioneer Brown County family Gustav and Mary Wolter Werth. A home was established on the family farm near Aberdeen.

Helen was active in the Aberdeen community. She was chairman of the Shrine Auxiliary to the Shriners’ Crippled Children Hospital in Minneapolis and a member of Modern Methods Extension Club and Presbyterian Women. She was a charter member of the Aberdeen Genealogical Society. For many years, Helen was the organist for the Faith United Methodist Church of Aberdeen.

In 1954 she was elected Worthy Matron of Minerva Chapter #5, Order of the Eastern Star, and served as Grand Organist for South Dakota Grand Chapter in 1969. She was also Queen of the Daughters of the Nile.

The Werths retired to Palm Desert, CA, in 1977 and Helen became active in the Shadow Mountain Palette Club and the local garden club.

In 1996, the Werths moved to Fallbrook, where Helen became a member of PEO and volunteered at Fallbrook Hospital. She was a member of Fallbrook Presbyterian Church.

Helen made many friends wherever she lived. She loved her family and friends and always had a cheerful smile for everyone. Her favorite things were music, playing bridge, genealogy, oil painting, gardening and volunteering.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Alvin Werth; infant son Edward Alvin Werth; and grandson Eric David Johnson.

Helen is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Marilyn and Dean Cadwell, Fallbrook, Virginia and Richard Johnson, White Bear Lake, MN, and Patricia and Michael Bowen, Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren Thomas Cadwell, Kathleen Cadwell Breitmayer, Stuart Johnson, Rev. Christopher Bowen and Robert Bowen; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Marjorie Muller and Lorraine Willis; and brother Eldred Leonard.

Memorial service and inurnment are to be held in Aberdeen at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to: Shriners’ Hospital for Crippled Children, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414.